CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Friday is National Popcorn Day and there are plenty of places where you can get a tasty treat in pretty much any flavor.
Did you know around 13 billion quarters of popcorn are consumed every year in the United States? That's more than any other country in the world and America's popcorn consumption continues to go up around 5% each year. The famous snack can be sweet, caramelized, salted, buttered or plain, or even molded into a candied ball. It's also common for popcorn to be blended with nuts and chocolate for a sophisticated, sweet treat.
Most of the popcorn we eat is either a butterfly or mushroom popcorn. Butterfly popcorn produces a fluffy, winged kernel while mushroom popcorn produces a denser, more compact kernel. Nebraska is the top popcorn producer in the U.S.
In the Charlotte area, there are two very popular popcorn shops. Munchees Popcorn in Matthews, and Popstarz in Concord. Munchees is family-owned and has been in business since 1993. Besides individuals and families, they provide popcorn to stadiums, arenas, concert venues and major outdoor events across the Carolinas. Their most popular is the caramel corn, which is made with a secret family recipe you can only find at Munchees.
Popstarz, formerly Tastebuds, offers 200-plus flavors made with real ingredients from Belmont, North Carolina. They're a veteran-owned and operated business where you get free samples when you walk in the store. They promise great popcorn and a great experience every time you visit.
One of the store's biggest supporters is NBA legend and Hornets icon Muggsy Bogues. He always stops in for some of their popcorn for his family and uses Popstars for his foundation's charity events. Bogues said he became a popcorn fan during his rookie season when he played for the Washington Bullets, now known as the Washington Wizards.
Contact Larry Sprinkle at lsprinkle@wcnc.com and follow him on Facebook, X and Instagram.